A mix featuring songs that have been carefully choosen, mixed and recorded onto an analog or digital medium. The name Mixtape is used because they were originally mixed and recorded onto cassette tapes by DJs in the 70's 80's and 90's. DJs later recorded mixtapes onto CD which gave them their second name Mix-CDs.Mixtape still prevails over the term Mix-CD as the main word used to describe DJ mixes of this nature.

Unfortunately in the late 1990's the term mixtape became associated erroneously with many artist compilations, which featured little or no actual dj mixing. As a mixtape aficionado, I prefer mixtapes to actually be mixed. DJ Mixed Mixtapes are the only real mixtapes out there, everything else should be called a compilation.

Romantics call compilations they put together for Loved ones Mixtapes because it is more romantic than Compilation Albums. Usually when giving "Ballad Mixtapes" to loved ones, there is a thought process on the selection of songs and the arrangement of the playlist. Many people, even "so called DJs" claim to make mixtapes but don't put any real thought into the creation process. They slap a bunch of popular songs together with no thought of the order or flow of the songs. That is definitely not a mixtape. Lets face it, If I wanted a bunch of songs played randomly without purpose, I would just hit shuffle on my I-Pod.

To make it simple Mixtapes should be mixed, everything else in reality is just a compilation.

Example 1: "I love mixtapes by Silva Sirfa, DJ Emir and DJ Scene because their mixes are smooth and creative."

Example 2:

Mixtape Fan: "Check out this mix"

Mixtape Fan's Friend: "Oh my God! Where did you get that hot Mixtape?"

Mixtape Fan: "I got it from www.DJEMIR.com almost all his mixtapes are straight fire! He mixes like a beast."

A homemade music compilation (usually on cassette or CD-R) that contains all your favourite tracks. Often you give such a compilation to the guy or gal of your fancy in hopes that it will help you win their heart.

There's no way that girl can say no, I made her the greatest mixtape ever!

An "underground" CD that has instrumentals already used by some artists, so the MC in the mixtape raps over these beats to show that they can rap better than the original artists. In these mixtapes there´s also annoying DJs yelling all over the tracks. It´s excellent for upcoming MCs that need to be heard, and for mainstream artists to "keep it gangsta".

A selection of audio recordings taken from various musical groups and placed on one media (cassette, cd, mp3 playlist). It is often given as gift to friends and used in the courting rituals of teenagers.